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Hawks DeMarre Carroll's injury isn't serious

DeMarre Carroll Carroll was injured with 4:59 remaining left in the fourth quarter of Cleveland's 97-89 victory against Atlanta Wednesday in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. He was hurt when his knee

Hawks DeMarre Carroll's injury isn't serious

Atlanta Hawks forward DeMarre Carroll (5) is helped off the court after an apparent injury during the fourth quarter of game one of the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Philips Arena. The MRI showed no structural damage.(Photo: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports)

ATLANTA – The MRI on Atlanta Hawks forward DeMarre Carroll's left knee revealed no structural damage and he is expected to be listed as day to day, a person with direct knowledge of the MRI told USA TODAY Sports.

The person requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly until the team officially announced the results.

Later in the day, the Hawks said an X-ray was negative, the MRI revealed a sprained knee, and the team listed Carroll as questionable for Game 2 against the Cleveland on Friday (8:30 p.m. ET, TNT).

"We're very hopeful," Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said. "Sometimes you tend to think it can be the worst. Right now everything we're getting back is positive. We'll monitor it the next 24 hours and hope for the best. It's important to us, obviously."

Budenholzer said it's too early to determine if Carroll will play in Game 2.

"We'll see how things go in the next 24 hours, and we'll make a decision what's in DeMarre's short-term and long-term best interests," he said. "Listen to the doctors and listen to DeMarre, and make decisions."

Carroll was injured with 4:59 remaining left in the fourth quarter of Cleveland's 97-89 victory against Atlanta Wednesday in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.

He was hurt when his knee appeared to buckle as he was driving to the basket. He fell on the floor on the baseline under the basket, as teammates, coaches and trainers surrounded him and eventually helped him off the floor and into the locker room.

Carroll is expected to be treated around the clock for a knee bruise, too.

"He will be getting whatever it takes and as much of it as possible," Budenholzer said. "Our training staff does an amazing job, a lot of confidence in them. DeMarre will do whatever he can for his health and for his recovery."

Carroll has been the Hawks' leading scorer in the playoffs and he is the team's best perimeter defender. He has morphed into a two-way player who is vital to Atlanta's success.

Any absence would impact the Hawks offensively and defensively. Even with Carroll on the floor in Game 1, LeBron James gave the Hawks difficulty, and the stretch of the game where the Cavs pulled away on a 22-4 run, Carroll was still playing.

Kent Bazemore is expected to get more playing time if Carroll can't go or is limited and will be tasked with a gigantic assignment: defending LeBron James.

"He's a very special player," Bazemore said. "Great passer, so the biggest thing is trying to limit everyone else. He's going to get what he's going to get. If you can kind of keep everyone else in the bottle, you have a better chance.

"It's super hard, especially when guys come in with their hands down. With me coming in 200 pounds soaking wet, he's massive. I've got my hands full, but I'm going to try to use other ways, my hands and feet and poking at the ball and hopefully throwing his rhythm off."

Thabo Sefolosha was playing behind Carroll this season, giving the Hawks a solid defensive presence on the perimeter. Sefolosha suffered a fractured right fibula and ligament damage after he and teammate Pero Antic were arrested on April 8 in New York. He blamed police for causing the injury during the arrest. He is out for the playoffs.